Folding chicken-crate.



IW.. E. BROWN. 'F.nLDING CHICKEN GRATB.

v APPLICATION FILED1'EB.14.1914.

' mmssg. i

Patented Oct. 27, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

| 4 w. im 7 M /g W /l/l M H/ ('lttomm W. E. BROWN.

FOLDING CHICKEN R'TE.y

APPLIUATION 11L1:1 1E.14.1914.

Patented m2731914.

2 SHEETS SHEET 2.

Lill.,

@MIM/Wto@ u .of which the UNITED 4SILIES PATENT OFFICE..

y WILLIS a snows, or immune, frkansas.

FQLDIN@ CHICKEN-CIATE- 0 .all whom it may concern.

ie it known that-I, lVILLis E; BROWN, a citizen of the United States,residing at llorraine, in the county of Ellsworth and State of Kansas,have invented new and useful improvements in Folding Chicken-Crates,

following is a specification.

This invention relates to shipping crates, and particularly to cratesfor shipping chickens or the like; and it has for its primary object theprovision of a crate of this character in which all of the Walls theeofare adapted to be folded onto one another to permit thocrate to assume arelatively compact package for return shipment.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a structure of thischaracter wherein the Work of filling the crate or removing the contentsthereof may be done expeditiously.

Another' object of the invention is the provision of means foredectually holding the different Walls of the crate normally in set uppositions.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists ot certainnovel features oi construction, combination and arrangenient of parts,as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

lin thel accompanying drawingsz-Figure 1 is a top plan view ot thecrate; Fig. Z is a side View thereof; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectiontherethrough; Fig. fl is a transverse section on the line 4 4 oi Fig.2*; Fig. 5 is an end View of the crate; Fig. 6 is a longi tudinalsection therethrough, showing the same in a folded condition; Fig. 7 isa seetion on line 7-7 of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a perspective view of one ofthe fastening devices.

'llhe crate comprises a suitable bottom 1 provided preferablywithtoraminous side walls 2 and foraminous end Walls 3, the latter havinghinged connection at l with the bottom at a point below the hinges 5between the sides of thebottorn and the adjacent lower edges of theWalls Q. 'll` he said side Walls 2 are provided with angular combinedstops and braces 6, which engage against the adjacent surfaces of theend walls 3 when the latter are folded to the positions shown in Fig. 3,thereby to limit the swinging movements of these Walls to set uppositions. The bottom and the side and end walls are preferably made ofsheet metal but may be made ot any suitable material.

Specification of Letters latonti. Application led February 14, 19M.Serial No. 818,816;

atenten oct. et', reir.

The closure sections 7-7 are employed for the pur ose of closing the toplot' the crate after t e latter is set up as shown iu Fig. Lt, and asillustrated said sections are hinged at 8`to the upper edes of the sideWalls 2, so that they may' adjusted to overlie said side Walls, as shownin Fig. 7 when vthe crate is knocked down'or folded for returnshipment.` rllhe ,positions of the hinges t and 5 between the bottom 1and the sides and ends 2 and 3 as specified is desired in order that theends 3 may be first folded onto the bottoni 1, asshown in Fig. 6, andthe sides 2 then folded to overlie the ends 3,

v while finally, the closure sections 7 are folded to the positionsshown in Fig. 7, so as to directly overlie the sides 2. lin this mannerthe sides and ends and the closure sections may all assume substantiallyparallel posif tions relatively and the crate as a whole adjusted into acomparatively compact package, as will be understood.

Flrhen the walls oii the crate are adjusted to the position shown inFig. 7 ll employ means for holding said parts in such positions, and asillustrated this means consists of a chain 9 having branches 10, 10 thatrespectively extend in opposite directions over the adjacentsuperimposed Walls of the crate. 'llhe branches are provided with snapfasteners or the like 11 that are adapted to engage in keeper loops 12which may be secured u on the sides of the bottom Wall 1. When t 1ecrate is set up to the position shown in Fig. 3 the snap hooks 11 may beconnected in hired hooks 1B secured to the sides 2. This arrangement isdesirable in that all the Walls of lthe crate may be substantiallybraced and heldagainst being accidentally knocked down while the crateis in shipment.

1t is sometimes desirable to sub-divide the crate intonon-con1municating compartments, and for this reason li prefer to employswinging partitions 111, which are susanar portions 16 that are toadjacent bars 23 of the closure section and they slidably support a bar26, as clearly illustrated in Figs. l and e ot the drawings. ln additionto the bars 24, the bar 26 has fixed thereto bars 27 and these bars inturn are connected to a mating bar 28, the ends of the latter beingslidable on rods 29 on j the under sides of the bars 20 and 21. The

rods 30 extend from the bar 26, and are disposed in parallel relation tothe bars 27, and they are provided With tree ends having hooks 3l thatare adapted to be engaged beneath flanges 32 formed on the end bar 22.The said flanges 32 are curved transversely throughout their length andthey are adapted to be engaged with cams v33 that are pivoted inbrackets 34e of the end Walls 3, as shown clearly in Figs. 2, 3, 5 and8. lt will thus be seen that when the hooks 3l of the rods 30 aredisconnected from the flange 32 that the bars are tree for slidingmovement upon the lined bars 24.

ln addition to the described elements each closure section is providedwith a slide bar 35, which is normally positioned adjacent theintermediatebar l5. .Said bar 35 has lined thereto the inner ends otrods 36, which are similar to the rods 30 previously referred to. Saidrods entend through a sliding bar 37 having its ends mounten on the rods29 and the bars are then extended over the adjacent end 22 of theclosure section and the ends'38 of the rods are extended over theadjacent dange 32. The laars 39 intense between the adjacent bars 22 and23 of the closure section form a guide tor the bar 37, While the rods d0between the bar 37 and the bar 35 are associated with the adjacentportions of the rod 36 so as to define therewith a substantiallyoraminated surface.

From the construction described, it is seen that either the bars 36 orthe bars 30 hereinbetore referred to may be adjusted so that an openingisformed in the closure section by means of Which the hand may beinserted into the crate when it is desired to remove 'the contentsthereof.

F rom the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the inventionwill be readily understood without requiring amore extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion and the minor details ofconstruction may be resorted to Without departing from the principle orsacrificing' anyl of the advantages ot this invention as claimed.

A. crate comprising a bottom member, swinging side Walls, swinging endWalls, closure sections carried by said side Walls and hinged theretoand having portions eX- tending over said end Walls, means on the endWalls having detachable connection with said extending portions, and adexilole brace normally extending between .the bot; tom member and saidside Walls and adapted to be extended over said sidey Walls when thecrate is in a folded condition, and means on said bottom member for.receiving the tree terminals of said brace.

ln testimony whereof l ax my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WlllLLl-S E, BRWN.

Witnesses:

EowAno lilloMniUne, fC. E. Klorrnnnnrrnn,

